Discover the range of colors which can be achieved and the "Thrill of the Unexpected" by learning the complex subtleties of nature's palette! Whether you're after strong, dashing tones to make your project more colorful or you're looking for the subtle, soft colors used in grandma's treasured coverlets, my classes explore the variations of color from the world of plants. Dyeing with natural plant materials is more than a craft, it’s a fascinating and inexpensive hobby. In my 3 day or week long classes, students will "venture into the fields, woods and ditches” to gather some of their own dye materials and prepare different dye baths. Students will also learn the proper techniques of Mordanting. The mordant sets the fastness of the color to prevent fading, opens up the fibers to accept the color, AND determines the color of the final product. Students will work with wool, silk, cotton and other fibers from plants and animals. In the Silk Painting / Surface Design, Japanese Shibori, and Eco - Printing / Flower Pounding classes, only natural plant dyes will be used for the background colors of their work.